Site Announcement

Community-based training lasted a month and then we all returned to Okahandja for the last bits of training and the site announcements. 

The time spent together was more of a family reunion for all of us.  We went to a beautiful resort to swim in a pool and our social committee organized “Peace Corps Prom,” a dinner party to celebrate our last week as trainees.

Group 42 is my family here and my strongest support system as I move forward in my service.  I had a wonderful time with them and wish them the best on their assignments.

Site Announcement Day

We had our language exam in the morning to monitor how we’d been progressing.  I scored a Novice High which indicates I need some extra help.  I’ve since identified my host sister as a tutor and she will work with me for an hour each day until the end of November.

Learning a new language has been one of my biggest frustrations since arrival.  I hope to keep that in mind as my students struggle with English.

In the afternoon of the same day, the trainers blindfolded us and walked us to various locations on a giant map of Namibia (made out of string in the yard of the community center).  They handed us folders containing our assignments.  When everyone was in their spots, we took off our blindfolds to reveal where we were standing and what the folders read.

It was especially exciting for those of us in the North because we were so close we were touching.  Before I knew where I was, I knew one of my favorite people, Maggie, was my neighbor.

The folder I was holding read: Nengushe Junior Secondary School in Okaku, Oshana.  If you’ve been following my blog, you will know that this is the same location where I spent the last month of my community-based training.

I feel so fortunate to return to this lovely school where the students and teachers already know my name. Part of the integration process has already been started for me.

They want me to teach grade 8 English and to start an ICT program (computer lab).  Apparently, the school has been waiting for a class set of laptops for about a year and we don’t know when they will arrive.  I will do what I can with what we have though.  I might get an opportunity to work in the Kindergarten as well.  More on that later. 

My service is beginning to take shape as I prepare to leave the training program.  It's far more exciting to see what I will be doing with my community.